Kotaco Fuels INC
Fargo, ND
DBA: NICHELSON OIL
Profile data updated Jul 26, 2026 from official FMCSA records
Trust Score
Mixed
FMCSA data ↓
170
Power Units
133
Drivers
FMCSA since 1974 (52 yrs)
Authority Age
S
Safety Rating
Company Overview
KOTACO FUELS INC is an active motor carrier registered with the FMCSA since June 1974. Based in Fargo, ND, they operate a fleet of 170 power units with 133 CDL drivers. They are classified as Interstate and operate interstate (beyond 100 miles) and interstate (within 100 miles) and intrastate (beyond 100 miles) and intrastate (within 100 miles). Their inferred equipment specializations include Tanker, Power Only, Box Truck and Doubles/Triples.
Equipment Analysis
Based on FMCSA cargo authorization flags and roadside-inspection vehicle records, Kotaco Fuels INC operates the following equipment types:
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Fleet Breakdown
| Equipment | Owned | Term Leased | Trip Leased | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tractors | 34 | 72 | 0 | 106 |
Authorized Cargo Types
Kotaco Fuels INC is authorized to transport the following 1 cargo type:
Operations Scope
CDL Drivers: 133
MCS-150 Mileage: 6,000,000 miles (2024)
Driver Information
133
Total Drivers
133
CDL Drivers
110
Interstate Drivers
23
Intrastate Drivers
Vehicles Operated by KOTACO FUELS INC
68 trucks and 63 trailers identified from FMCSA inspection records. Last update: May 8, 2026.
What this fleet looks like
Top makes on record: Kenworth, Polar Tank Trailer, Peterbilt. Equipment breakdown: 64 TRUCK TRACTOR, 62 SEMI-TRAILER, 4 STRAIGHT TRUCK. Out-of-service rate is 17.6% — roughly 1 in 5 inspections parks the truck. Fleet data is from FMCSA roadside inspection records (24-month rolling). Trucks that haven't been inspected recently may not appear.
Equipment mix (4 vehicle types)
| Vehicle type | Count | Share |
|---|---|---|
| TRUCK TRACTOR | 64 | 49% |
| SEMI-TRAILER | 62 | 47% |
| STRAIGHT TRUCK | 4 | 3% |
| FULL TRAILER | 1 | 1% |
Trailers (63 on record)
Trailers recorded pulling under this carrier's DOT number in FMCSA roadside inspections. Individual trailer plates and VINs are listed in the plate and vehicle sections above.
| Semi-trailer | 62 |
| Full Trailer | 1 |
| Polar Mfg. | 11 |
| Unpublishe | 10 |
| Heil Trailer | 9 |
| LBT | 7 |
| Beall Inc | 4 |
| Unknown | 3 |
| Westmor | 2 |
| Applied Cr | 2 |
| Mississipp | 2 |
| Beal | 2 |
| Trinity Pr | 1 |
| Westank In | 1 |
| Brenner Ta | 1 |
| Moser | 1 |
| Mack Trail | 1 |
| Tank Trailer | 52 |
| Box or Van Enclosed Trailer | 2 |
| Flatbed or Platform Trailer | 1 |
| 53 ft | 18 |
| 44 ft | 9 |
| 45 ft | 8 |
| 42 ft | 6 |
| 50 ft | 2 |
| 49 ft | 2 |
| 2 axles | 30 |
| 3 axles | 22 |
| 4 axles | 6 |
| 5 axles | 1 |
Vehicle makes (20 brands on record)
| Make | Vehicles | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Kenworth | 30 | 23% |
| Polar Tank Trailer | 16 | 12% |
| Peterbilt | 15 | 12% |
| Freightliner | 11 | 9% |
| Westmor Industries | 8 | 6% |
| Heil Trailer International | 8 | 6% |
| Beall Trailers | 7 | 5% |
| Lbt Inc | 7 | 5% |
| Volvo Truck | 6 | 5% |
| International | 4 | 3% |
| MAC | 3 | 2% |
| Western Star | 2 | 2% |
| Dragon Products | 2 | 2% |
| Mississippi Tank Company | 2 | 2% |
| Applied Cryo Technologies | 2 | 2% |
| Unpublishe | 2 | 2% |
| Mid-nebraska Truck & Trailer Sales Inc. | 1 | 1% |
| Elite Trailers | 1 | 1% |
| Moser | 1 | 1% |
| Stoughton Trailers | 1 | 1% |
Spec sheets, common recalls & complaints for the truck models this carrier operates.
License plates on file (20 shown, most recent first)
| Plate | State | Vehicle | Inspections | Last seen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45860P | ND | Kenworth TRUCK TRACTOR | 1 | May 2026 |
| T909147 | ND | Polar Mfg. SEMI-TRAILER | 1 | May 2026 |
| T909193 | ND | Westank In SEMI-TRAILER | 3 | May 2026 |
| PR51651 | SD | Western St TRUCK TRACTOR | 3 | May 2026 |
| 416957 | NE | Peterbilt TRUCK TRACTOR | 4 | Apr 2026 |
| T925683 | ND | Heil Trailer SEMI-TRAILER | 4 | Apr 2026 |
| 850BWX | ND | Kenworth STRAIGHT TRUCK | 1 | Apr 2026 |
| 44664P | ND | Volvo TRUCK TRACTOR | 3 | Apr 2026 |
| 20955P | ND | Volvo TRUCK TRACTOR | 3 | Apr 2026 |
| T910076 | ND | Polar Mfg. SEMI-TRAILER | 2 | Apr 2026 |
| T914556 | ND | Heil Trailer SEMI-TRAILER | 1 | Apr 2026 |
| 20953P | ND | Volvo STRAIGHT TRUCK | 6 | Apr 2026 |
| T909196 | ND | Beall Inc FULL TRAILER | 6 | Apr 2026 |
| TEMP | KS | Kenworth TRUCK TRACTOR | 2 | Apr 2026 |
| T930964 | ND | Unpublishe SEMI-TRAILER | 1 | Apr 2026 |
| 7730P | ND | Kenworth TRUCK TRACTOR | 2 | Apr 2026 |
| T909155 | ND | Polar Mfg. SEMI-TRAILER | 2 | Apr 2026 |
| 39667P | ND | Volvo TRUCK TRACTOR | 3 | Apr 2026 |
| T909153 | ND | Pott SEMI-TRAILER | 3 | Apr 2026 |
| T922004 | ND | Polar Mfg. SEMI-TRAILER | 3 | Apr 2026 |
Plate registrations span 9 states: ND (103) · NE (10) · CO (7) · MT (3) · KS (3) · WY (2) · ID (1) · NM (1) · …
Recent active vehicles (12 shown of 131)
Showing the most recently active 12 vehicles. Full fleet records are available via direct VIN search.
Fleet data is aggregated from FMCSA roadside inspection records (24-month rolling window). Vehicles inspected under this carrier's DOT number are listed. A VIN can appear under multiple carriers over its lifetime if leased, sold, or operated by different fleets at different times. Recall status is VIN-specific — use the NHTSA recall lookup linked on each vehicle above to see whether a given VIN has open (unremedied) recalls, or verify with the OEM dealer.
Dispatch Services in ND
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Verify on Official Sources
Cross-reference this carrier's data with official FMCSA systems:
Safety Performance
Good
Below national average OOS rates
O Trucking Safety Grade
127
Inspections
24 months
153
Violations
Total found
21
Out of Service
Orders issued
Out-of-Service Rates vs National Average
✓ Better than national average (-6.7%)
✓ Better than national average (-6.0%)
| Date | State | Level | Violations | OOS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07/21/2026 | CO | Walk-Around | 1 | ✓ |
| 06/19/2026 | ND | Walk-Around | 0 | ✓ |
| 06/16/2026 | CO | Walk-Around | 0 | ✓ |
| 06/16/2026 | CO | Walk-Around | 0 | ✓ |
| 06/12/2026 | ND | Full | 0 | ✓ |
| 06/09/2026 | ND | Full | 2 | ✓ |
| 06/04/2026 | ND | Full | 3 | ✓ |
| 05/23/2026 | ND | Walk-Around | 1 | ✓ |
| 05/12/2026 | US | Full | 1 | 1 |
| 05/08/2026 | ND | Driver Only | 1 | ✓ |
| 05/02/2026 | ND | Walk-Around | 0 | ✓ |
| 04/30/2026 | MN | Full | 6 | 2 |
| 04/30/2026 | NE | Full | 1 | 1 |
| 04/29/2026 | ND | Driver Only | 0 | ✓ |
| 04/29/2026 | ND | Full | 4 | ✓ |
Showing 15 of 127 inspections.
Inspection data from FMCSA (24-month window). Updated daily. View full inspection history on FMCSA →
Violation Breakdown
Insurance & Bonding
BIPD
$5 Million
FEDERATED MUTUAL INSURANCE CO.
Cargo
Not on file
Bond
Not on file
| Type | Insurance Company | Form | Policy # | Coverage | Effective |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BIPD | FEDERATED MUTUAL INSURANCE CO. | 91X | 6041666 | $5 Million | 03/01/2017 |
| BIPD | FEDERATED RESERVE INSURANCE COMPANY | 91X | 1881062 | $1 Million | 01/01/2024 |
View Insurance History (14 past records)
| Type | Company | Policy # | Effective | Cancelled | Method |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FEDERATED MUTUAL INSURANCE CO. | 6041666 | 03/01/2017 | 12/19/2017 | TERM/CANCL | |
| FEDERATED MUTUAL INSURANCE CO. | 6041666 | 03/01/2017 | 12/19/2017 | TERM/CANCL | |
| FEDERATED MUTUAL INSURANCE CO. | 9042051 | 06/15/1987 | 08/06/1998 | CANCEL | |
| FEDERATED MUTUAL INSURANCE CO. | 087663 | 06/15/1987 | 08/06/1998 | CANCEL | |
| FEDERATED MUTUAL INSURANCE CO. | 9335045 | 09/14/1998 | 03/22/2017 | NAMECHG | |
| FEDERATED MUTUAL INSURANCE CO. | 9335044 | 09/14/1998 | 03/22/2017 | NAMECHG | |
| FEDERATED MUTUAL INSURANCE CO. | 6041666 | 03/01/2017 | 03/01/2017 | TERM/REPL | |
| FEDERATED MUTUAL INSURANCE CO. | 6041666 | 03/01/2017 | 03/01/2017 | TERM/REPL | |
| FEDERATED MUTUAL INSURANCE CO. | 6041666 | 03/01/2017 | 03/01/2017 | TERM/REPL | |
| FEDERATED MUTUAL INSURANCE CO. | 6041666 | 03/01/2017 | 03/01/2017 | TERM/REPL | |
| FEDERATED MUTUAL INSURANCE CO. | 6041666 | 03/01/2017 | 03/01/2017 | TERM/REPL | |
| FEDERATED MUTUAL INSURANCE CO. | 6041666 | 03/01/2017 | 03/01/2017 | TERM/REPL | |
| FEDERATED MUTUAL INSURANCE CO. | 6041666 | 03/01/2017 | 03/01/2017 | TERM/REPL | |
| FEDERATED MUTUAL INSURANCE CO. | 6041666 | 03/01/2017 | 01/01/2024 | TERM/REPL |
Insurance data sourced from FMCSA. Updated daily. Verify on FMCSA →
Crash History
3
Total Crashes
0
Fatalities
1
Injuries
3
Tow-Aways
3 FMCSA-recordable · 2 hazmat-involved
| Date | State | Location | Fatal | Injuries | Tow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 05/29/2025 | CO | MEAD, CO | 0 | 1 | Yes |
| 02/21/2025 | NE | KIMBALL, NE | 0 | 0 | Yes |
| 12/03/2024 | ND | ND | 0 | 0 | Yes |
Crash data from FMCSA. Does not include driver information per federal privacy requirements. View full crash report on FMCSA →
Recent Changes
Changes tracked daily from FMCSA data.
Is Kotaco Fuels INC Legitimate? Safety & Fraud Check
A quick, plain-English check of whether this carrier looks safe and legitimate to hire — based on public FMCSA and U.S. Treasury records. It's a screening aid, not a guarantee; always confirm on the official FMCSA SAFER site.
These checks use public U.S. government records — the carrier's license status, safety-inspection and crash history, ownership links, and the U.S. Treasury sanctions list — refreshed automatically. A flag doesn't prove wrongdoing; it's a prompt to verify before you do business.
Reviews of Kotaco Fuels INC
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Frequently Asked Questions
What equipment does KOTACO FUELS INC operate?
Based on their FMCSA cargo classifications and fleet data, KOTACO FUELS INC is inferred to operate: Tanker, Power Only, Box Truck and Doubles/Triples.
Is KOTACO FUELS INC's authority currently active?
KOTACO FUELS INC currently holds active operating authority with the FMCSA.
How long has KOTACO FUELS INC been in business?
KOTACO FUELS INC has been registered with the FMCSA since June 1974, making their authority approximately 52 years, 1 month old.
Where is KOTACO FUELS INC located?
KOTACO FUELS INC is physically located at 1902 7TH AVE N, FARGO, ND 58102.
Roadside Inspection History 127 records
Individual inspections from FMCSA Motor Carrier Management Information System (MCMIS). Last 24 months. Updated monthly.
What this means
KOTACO FUELS INC has been inspected 127 times by state troopers and DOT inspectors in the past 24 months. Most inspections happened in ND, CO, NE. Out of these, 14 inspections (about 11%) resulted in an out-of-service order — meaning the truck or driver was held until a violation was fixed. The national average vehicle out-of-service rate is roughly 21%. The most frequently cited violation is 393.47E (Clamp/brake out of adjustment) — 14 times in this window.
| Date | State | Level | Violations | OOS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-21 | CO | Level 2 · Walk-around | 1 | — |
| 2026-06-19 | ND | Level 2 · Walk-around | 0 | — |
| 2026-06-16 | CO | Level 2 · Walk-around | 0 | — |
| 2026-06-16 | CO | Level 2 · Walk-around | 0 | — |
| 2026-06-12 | ND | Level 1 · North American Standard (full) | 0 | — |
| 2026-06-09 | ND | Level 1 · North American Standard (full) | 2 | — |
| 2026-06-04 | ND | Level 1 · North American Standard (full) | 3 | — |
| 2026-05-23 | ND | Level 2 · Walk-around | 1 | — |
| 2026-05-12 | US | Level 1 · North American Standard (full) | 1 | OOS · 1 |
| 2026-05-08 | ND | Level 3 · Driver-only | 1 | — |
| 2026-05-02 | ND | Level 2 · Walk-around | 0 | — |
| 2026-04-30 | MN | Level 1 · North American Standard (full) | 6 | OOS · 2 |
| 2026-04-30 | NE | Level 1 · North American Standard (full) | 1 | OOS · 1 |
| 2026-04-29 | ND | Level 3 · Driver-only | 0 | — |
| 2026-04-29 | ND | Level 1 · North American Standard (full) | 4 | — |
| 2026-04-28 | CO | Level 2 · Walk-around | 0 | — |
| 2026-04-28 | ND | Level 2 · Walk-around | 0 | — |
| 2026-04-27 | ND | Level 3 · Driver-only | 1 | — |
| 2026-04-16 | NE | Level 3 · Driver-only | 1 | — |
| 2026-04-03 | CO | Level 2 · Walk-around | 2 | — |
| 2026-04-01 | CO | Level 3 · Driver-only | 1 | — |
| 2026-03-18 | ND | Level 3 · Driver-only | 0 | — |
| 2026-03-17 | NE | Level 3 · Driver-only | 0 | — |
| 2026-02-24 | ND | Level 3 · Driver-only | 0 | — |
| 2026-02-23 | MO | Level 2 · Walk-around | 2 | — |
Showing 25 of 127 inspections. View full history →
Most-Cited Violations
Top 10 violation types across this carrier's roadside inspections. Cards in red triggered an out-of-service order — the most serious outcome.
Roadside Violation Profile
Across FMCSA roadside inspections (rolling 24 months), KOTACO FUELS INC was cited for 121 violations, of which 24 (20%) placed a driver or vehicle out of service.
| BASIC category | Violations | Out-of-service |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Maintenance | 93 | 17 |
| Hazardous Materials Compliance | 21 | 6 |
| Hours-of-Service Compliance | 4 | 1 |
| Unsafe Driving | 3 | 0 |
Source: FMCSA roadside-inspection violation records (rolling 24-month summary). Counts reflect citations across all inspections under this carrier's DOT number; see Inspection History for individual inspection events. Violation severity and CSA percentile scores are shown in the Safety & Compliance section.
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Carrier History & Continuity
Research signals that connect this carrier to other USDOT entities — useful for shippers, brokers, and insurers performing due diligence.
Other Carriers Registered at This Address (1)
These carriers list the same physical street, city, and state in FMCSA's public database. Shared addresses commonly reflect legitimate co-located businesses, multi-fleet owners, or registered-agent services. Always verify directly with FMCSA before drawing conclusions.
About this data: All entries above come from FMCSA's public USDOT registry (MCS-150 filings). We surface name and address overlaps so shippers, brokers, and insurers can perform their own due diligence. The presence of an entry here does not imply wrongdoing by any party.
For background on FMCSA's chameleon-carrier risk-based vetting program: FMCSA methodology →
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